Marc Rienzo / Digital Domain Media Group: Amazin’

These CG shorts created for the New York Mets, are both cinematically lush with beautiful attention to detail and design.

Directed by Marc Dominic Rienzo, he and his team at the recently closed Digital Domain Media Group, first crafted the original film “Amazin’.” The Mets loved it so much, they asked Marc and the team to make two more vfx-induced shorts targeting a younger audience, hence the birth of “Heads Up Display” and “The Ball Unleashed.”

I recently caught up with Marc to ask a few questions on the process and he was nice enough to share some great insight and fun imagery into the making of these films.  Be sure to also check out the DD/Mets action figure and baseball cards! Love those.

Q&A with Director Marc Dominic Rienzo

These are not the typical baseball films we see promoting an mlb team. How did these come about? 

“Amazin’” was initially created as a history-based, nostalgic, traditional baseball piece. It was so well received, we were then asked to do more. This time, they wanted the visual effects to be more visible and pronounced. The intent  was to connect with a younger audience and show them baseball in a totally new and exciting way.

More process imagery and interview action this way →

Rogues Gallery : Hawken Web Trailer

RoguesGallery.tv is a new VFX outfit in the South Pasadena area, formed by Creative Director Charles Paek and Executive Producer Brian Wee.

Specializing in photo-real CG for just about every aspect of the visual world, you can witness their latest effort and second collaboration with director Jerry O’Flaherty (Gears of War) on the Hawken web trailer,

Having already been immersed in the Hawken “world” with the teaser they previously created for the forthcoming Adhesive Games title, Rogues Gallery hit the ground running on the new trailer.

Working closely with Jerry and editor Josh Bodnar of the Whitehouse, they have crafted a powerful trailer that will give viewers a glimpse of what to expect from both the web series and the recently announced Hawken feature film.

OFFF Barcelona 2011 Main Titles : Mischa Rozema and PostPanic

Director Mischa Rozema says of this piece, “We knew we wanted to make something that would unsettle and menace the audience.” Mission accomplished, Mischa.

Not only is the ambitious undertaking of this year’s OFFF Barcelona main titles beautifully crafted, and quite obviously a labor of love, but it is equally as captivating as it is intense and powerful. On the narrative front, we are instantly sucked into a post-apocalyptic world of darkness, and it seems no idea was left unturned.  Around every corner lies an unexpected twist for the awesome that might not be suitable for the squeamish.

PostPanic’s execution of the VFX is flawless on every front, elevating the piece as a whole to legendary status among main titles, but don’t take my word for it. Full screen it, grab your headphones, and see for yourself.